The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-05-07
A LEAF FROM HISTORY.

With all the experience of history be-
fore them the Tory Government rush
blindly along the fatal road of coercion,
and they hope as so many governments
have hoped during the past sixty years.
that the moment the bill now before
Parliament is on the statute book there
will be "order'' in Ireland. Fifty-four
years ago-on the 18th Of February, 1888
the strongest Ministry that ever ruled
the destlnies of England introduced the
fercest Coercion Bill ever imposed upon
the people of Ireland. The 1.-THE War
ragged. O'Connell demanded redress,
and Lord Grey, the head of the govern
ment, replied by coercion. O'Connell
answered, then war to the knife, and
gathered about him small but sturdy
band of Irish members helped by Eng
lish Radicals, who disputed the ground
inch by inch with the Ministry. For
five nights there was struggle over the
Address which had announced the pol
icy of coercion, and for six nights the
motion Of leave to bring in the bill was
discussed amid scenes of the widest
excitement. O'Connell warned the
Government that the bill would be fatal
to their existence, and the House jeered
at him. He said it would not lead to
tranquility, but the very reverse, and
members rOared "Order, order,
threats, threats" O'Connell an
swered these taunts and Interruptions
eff 1 advise you it will be said I
threaten; if I prophesy, I shall be
tainted with provoking what I prophe-
sy. Such is the miserable condition I
am in that I cannot tell you of
your danger without having it said
that 1 am creating that danger.
L abandon giving you advice.
1 know what is it's value, but I avoid
giving it. You ask us to trample upon
the Constitution, but you give us no
proof that by so doing tranquility will
be restored to Che country. I tell you
that tranquility will not be restored to
the country until you do usjustice."
But O'Connell's words were needed
not. The bill was carried by tyrant
majorities. It was read a first time by
366 to 50 votes; second by 1853 to "a; a
third by 345 to SO; and the Government
gloried in their great triumph. The
duration of the bill was limited to one
year, but no one doubted that the
strong Government Of Lord Grey could
easily obtain the renewal Of the meas
ure if desired. Twelve months after
the passage of the bill the state of Ire.
land was as bad as ever, and Lord Grey
resolved in June, 1884, to renew the
measure. But the act had sat heavily
on the Ministers. It gave rise to dis
sensions in the Cabinet, and seemed to
be doing no good in ireland. O'Con-
nell declared that if an attempt was
made to renew it he would exhaust the
forms of Parliament in resisting it at
every stage. The Cabinet became d.
Fvided.. Lord Brougham, the Marquis
of Wellesley. Lord Althrop were
against the renewal; Lord Grey and the
rest for it. One of the most disgrace
full wrangles in history took place. One
section of the Cabinet opened neeotia-
ton with O'Connell without letting
Lord Grey into the secret and a prom
Use was made to the Irish leader that
the act would not be renewed if a Re-
peal candidate then contesting the
county Wexford was withdrawn. The
candidate was withdrawn, but Lord
Grey was too strong for his colleagues,
and dispite the pomises made to O'Con-
nell the renewal bill was introduced in
the Lords on the LIST Of July, 1884. Then
the great Agitator exposed the whole
proceeding of the government in the
House of Commons told how the prom
Uses made to him bad been broken. A
great scene took place. Lord Grey
t!.en learned for the first time that his
own Cabinet was not faithful to him;
and the men who had opened negotla-
lions with o Connell but had shown no
disposition to keep faith so long as their
doings were kept secret, quailed under
public exposure, and resigned their
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